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Amanullah Khan creates the Afghan Monarchy
Amanullah Khan became king seven years after Afghanistan gains its independence. He was the ruler from 1919-1929. He led Afghanistan to independence from the UK. First Afghanistan ruler who attempted to modernize Afghanistan using Western ideas.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. -
Zahir Shah becomes king of Afghanistan
The new king rules for forty years and brings peace to the country. The United Statea recognizes Afghanistn as a country.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. -
Britain withdraws from India
Britain withdraws from India, creating the predominantly Hindu but secular state of India and the Islamic state of Pakistan. The nation of Pakistan includes a long, largely uncontrollable, border with Afghanistan.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. ,14 Nov. 2014. -
Mohammed Daoud Khan becomes prime minister
The pro-Soviet Gen. Mohammed Daoud Khan, cousin of the king, becomes prime minister and looks to the communist nation for economic and military assistance. He also introduces a number of social reforms including allowing women a more public presence.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. ,14 Nov. 2014. -
Afghanistan allies
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agrees to help Afghanistan, and the two countries become close allies.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. ,14 Nov. 2014. -
Women Reforms
As part of Daoud’s reforms, women are allowed to attend university and enter the workforce.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. ,14 Nov. 2014. -
communist
Afghan forms the communist party with karmal as leader
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. -
Republic of Afghanistan is created
Mohammed Daoud Khan creates the Republic of Afghanistan. The first Afghan republic. Daod Knah was the Prime Minister from 1953-1963 and later became the first president of Afghaniatan until his assassination in 1978 as a result of the Saur Revolution
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. -
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan forms
Doaud is killed and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan begins during the Saur Revolution. Communist People's Democratic Party takes control of Afghanistan. The Saur Revolution was just the Communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan name for taking cotrol of the government
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. -
Population boom
people flee from Iran and Pakistan to Afghanistan, soviet union is in control of urban areas while afghan guriellas are in control of the rural part
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. -
Osama Bin Laden makes his first recorded trip
Although he claims to have traveled to Afghanistan immediately after the Soviet invasion, Saudi Islamist Osama bin Laden makes his first documented trip to Afghanistan to aid anti-Soviet fighters. The United Nations investigates reported human rights violations in Afghanistan.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. ,14 Nov. 2014. -
Weapons from the US
The Mujahadeen are receiving arms from the United States, Britain and China via Pakistan.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. ,14 Nov. 2014. -
Al-Qaida forms
In September, Osama bin Laden and 15 other Islamists form the group al-Qaida, or “the base”, to continue their jihad, or holy war, against the Soviets and other who they say oppose their goal of a pure nation governed by Islam. With their belief that the Soviet’s faltering war in Afghanistan was directly attributable to their fighting, they claim victory in their first battle, but also begin to shift their focus to America, saying the remaining superpower is the main obstacle to the (part 1) -
Al-Qaida forms (part 2)
establishment of a state based on Islam.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. ,14 Nov. 2014. -
US Peace Accord
The U.S., Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Soviet Union sign peace accords in Geneva guaranteeing Afghan independence and the withdrawal of 100,000 Soviet troops. Following Soviet withdrawal, the Mujahadeen continue their resistance against the Soviet-backed regime of communist president Dr. Mohammad Najibullah, who had been elected president of the puppet Soviet state in 1986.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. ,14 Nov. 2014. -
Rebel Groups storm the Capital
The Mujahadeen and other rebel groups, with the aid of turncoat government troops, storm the capital, Kabul, and oust Najibullah from power. Ahmad Shah Masood, legendary guerrilla leader, leads the troops into the capital. The United Nations offers protection to Najibullah. The Mujahadeen, a group already beginning to fracture as warlords fight over the future of Afghanistan, form a largely Islamic state.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. ,14 Nov. 2014. -
The Taliban Forms
Newly formed Islamic militia, the Taliban, rises to power on promises of peace. Most Afghans, exhausted by years of drought, famine and war, approve of the Taliban for upholding traditional Islamic values. The Taliban outlaw cultivation of poppies for the opium trade, crack down on crime, and curtail the education and employment of women. Women are required to be fully veiled and are not allowed outside alone.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. ,14 Nov. 2014. -
Public Executiom
The Taliban publicly executes Najibullah. Ethnic groups in the north, under Masood’s Northern Alliance, and the south, aided in part by Hamid Karzai, continue to battle the Taliban for control of the country.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. ,14 Nov. 2014. -
Bombing of American Embassies
Following al-Qaida’s bombings of two American embassies in Africa, President Clinton orders cruise missile attacks against bin Laden’s training camps in Afghanistan. The attacks miss the Saudi and other leaders of the terrorist group.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. ,14 Nov. 2014. -
Drought Devestates Economy
Continuing drought devastates farmers and makes many rural areas uninhabitable. More than 1 million Afghans flee to neighboring Pakistan, where they languish in squalid refugee camps.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. ,14 Nov. 2014. -
Bin Laden considered a Terrorist
By now considered an international terrorist, bin Laden is widely believed to be hiding in Afghanistan, where he is cultivating thousands of followers in terrorist training camps. The United States demands that bin Laden be extradited to stand trial for the embassy bombings. The Taliban decline to extradite him. The United Nations punishes Afghanistan with sanctions restricting trade and economic development.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. ,14 Nov. 2014. -
Events Leading to 9/11
March 2001 Ignoring international protests, the Taliban carry out their threat to destroy Buddhist statues in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, saying they are an affront to Islam. Sept. 4, 2001
A month after arresting them, the Taliban put eight international aid workers on trial for spreading Christianity. Under Taliban rule, proselytizing is punishable by death.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. ,14 Nov. 2014. -
9/11
Hijackers commandeer four commercial airplanes and crash them into the World Trade Center Towers in New York, the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., and a Pennsylvania field, killing thousands. Days later, U.S. officials say bin Laden, the Saudi exile believed to be hiding in Afghanistan, is the prime suspect in the attack.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. -
Karzai and council
In June, the Loya Jirga, or grand council, elects U.S.-backed Hamid Karzai as interim leader. Karzai chooses the members of his government who will serve until 2004, when the government is required to organize elections
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. -
New Constitution
The Loya Jirga adopts a new constitution following input from nearly 500,000 Afghans, some of whom participate in public meetings in villages. The new constitution calls for a president and two vice presidents, but the office of prime minister is removed at the last minute. The official languages, according to the constitution, are Pashto and Dari. Also, the new constitution calls for equality for women.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. -
Election and Candidates
Presidential elections are held. More than 10.5 million Afghans register to vote and choose among 18 presidential candidates, including interim leader Karzai. Karzai is elected with 55 percent of the vote.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. -
Election
The nation holds its first parliamentary elections in more than 30 years. The peaceful vote leads to the parliament’s first meeting in December.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. -
Taliban Leaders Death
The Afghan government and NATO confirm that Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah was killed during a U.S.-led operation in southern Afghanistan
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. -
Obama And A strategy for Afghanistan
President Barack Obama names Richard Holbrooke as a special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mr. Obama announces a new strategy for the Afghanistan war that would dispatch more military and civilian trainers to the country, in addition to the 17,000 more combat troops he previously ordered. The strategy also includes assistance to Pakistan in its fight against militants.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. -
Obama and head of US central Command
President Barack Obama accepts Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s resignation as the top commander in Afghanistan, over critical comments he made in a Rolling Stone article, and nominates Gen. David Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command, as his replacement.
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. -
Osama Bin Laden Is Killed
U.S. forces overtake a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and kill al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden
"A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014.